We were first time home buyers with dreams of building a REI "empire".

We were first time home buyers with dreams of building a REI "empire".

I was reading Build a Rental Property Empire via kindle and took a moment to browse the internet; attempting to gauge the quality of my rental property I acquired about 5 years ago.My name is Wilson and am from the Milwaukee area.

I’m 21 and actually in the miami area, starting up my “real estate empire” as well.

My long term goal is not to manage a rental property empire, but to own a few properties to diversify my investment portfolio away from only stocks, bonds, etc.Are there any glaring mistakes in the below?

Maybe one day my real estate empire will be worth "1 gazillion dollars!" 

Specifically, anyone in the Inland Empire with relatable experience and/or contacts that would be interested in buying?

You'll never be able to build that cash-flowing empire if you can't close on a deal.

Maybe work for a commercial brokerage and learn the business.Here are my favorite books:Multifamily Millions by Dave LindahlThe ABCs of Real Estate Investing by Ken McElroyThe Complete Guide to Buying and Selling Apartment Buildings by Steve BergesCommercial Real Estate Investing by Dolf De RoosTrump: The Best Real Estate Advice I Ever Received by Donald TrumpTax Free Wealth by Tom WheelwrightCommercial Real Estate 101: How Small Investors Can Get Started and Make It Big by David LindahlRaising Private Capital: Building Your Real Estate Empire Using Other People’s Money by Matt FairclothThe Definitive Guide to Apartment Marketing by Josh GrilloInvesting in Apartment Building by Matthew MartinezCrushing It in Apartments and Commercial Real Estate by Brian H MurrayThe 7 Secrets to Successful Apartment Leasing by Eric Cumley2 Years to a Million in Real Estate by Matthew MartinezBurn Zones: Playing Life’s Bad Hands by Jorge NewberyCommercial Mortgages 101: Everything You Need to Know to Create a Winning Loan Request by Michael ReinhardIt’s a Whole New Business!

Not a major thing for some but coming from Inland Empire or California in general this can be a challenge.